Q: Can anybody benefit from homeopathic treatment? What kind of disease does homeopathy treat?

A: Homeopathy treats the patient, not the disease; thus, anyone can benefit from homeopathy, regardless of type of illness.  The homeopathic practitioner considers the patient’s unique history and symptom picture before suggesting remedies, supplements, and/or lifestyle changes.  The name of the disease itself becomes irrelevant.  Many factors influence health and treatment outcomes: nutrition, lifestyle habits, severity and length of illness, body’s ability to respond to treatment, and patient compliance with the treatment plan.    

Q: Are homeopathic remedies safe? Do they cause any adverse reactions or allergies? 

A: Homeopathic remedies are completely safe, causing no adverse or allergic reactions.  Derived from natural plant, mineral, and animal sources, they are tested or proven only on healthy human subjects.  By contrast, allopathic or mainstream medications are chemically altered substances tested on animals.   Allopathic drugs can have multiple side effects, many of which are severe. One hundred and thirty thousand Americans die annually from adverse reactions to properly prescribed prescription medication.  There are no known cases of death from using homeopathic remedies.

Homeopathy recognizes the phenomenon of aggravation or worsening of a patient’s disease symptoms, usually occurring after a remedy is first taken.  This phenomenon is often mistaken for an adverse or allergic reaction.  In homeopathy, aggravation of disease symptoms is regarded as a sign that the correct remedy has been administered.  Improvement of the patient’s condition usually ensues shortly thereafter.  If an aggravation persists, it typically indicates the remedy is more powerful than the patient’s vital force, or life energy, and is overwhelming the ability of the body to respond to the treatment and heal.  In this case, the homeopathic remedy can be temporarily discontinued, or dose and frequency reduced, until the aggravation has subsided.

Q: Is homeopathy the same as herbalism?

A: Even though herbalism and homeopathy are both holistic therapeutic modalities, the principles upon which they are based, and the way their respective remedies are prepared, are very different.  Herbal remedies are made exclusively from plants in their undiluted form, and are rendered into preparations such as tinctures, concoctions, mixtures, extracts, and poultices.   A single herbal tincture can be made from a combination of many herbs.  Homeopathic remedies are prepared not only from plants, but also have animal and mineral origins.

The process of preparing homeopathic remedies is unique among all other branches of medicine.   A mother tincture (liquid) or trituration (powder) is put through a series of dilutions, followed by succussions, or powerful shaking.  Samuel Hahnemann, the father of homeopathy, called this process dynamization or potentization.  Most fascinating is that the more diluted a solution becomes, the more potent the remedy. The highest potencies in homeopathy, the LM potencies, are the most powerful and at the same time most gentle, causing fewer aggravations.  Samuel Hahnemann discovered that remedy dilution or potentization  increases the effectiveness of the remedy and minimizes aggravation of patient symptoms.

Q: I have heard that some homeopathic remedies are made from very potent poisons. Is it really safe to use them?

A: Despite the fact that many homeopathic remedies are made from potent poisons, such as deadly nightshade, hemlock, arsenic, cobra venom, etc., they are safe.   The process of potentization (see above) dilutes homeopathic remedies to such an extent that all toxicity is eliminated.   In their undiluted forms, these poisonous substances are lethal, but as homeopathic remedies they have been proven to save lives.  All homeopathic remedies have been approved by the FDA.

Q: How are homeopathic remedies administered? 

A: Homeopathic remedies are available in tinctures, pellets, tablets, drops, globules, and triturations (powders).  All of them are equally safe and effective.

Q: Is it safe to take homeopathic remedies during pregnancy? 

A: Homeopathic remedies are completely safe for pregnant women, with no risk of pregnancy termination.  In fact, certain remedies can actually aid in the prevention of miscarriage.  Homeopathy has been found to be very valuable in cases of morning sickness, indigestion, headaches, and other maladies of pregnancy.  

Q: Are there any contraindications, or reasons for not taking, homeopathic remedies?

A: No contraindications exist.  However, if you are suffering from severe acute or chronic deteriorating health conditions, it is advisable to seek medical care or advice from a licensed medical doctor first.

Q: Do homeopathic remedies interfere with allopathic drugs? Can you combine allopathic drugs with homeopathic remedies?

A: Homeopathic remedies do not interfere with allopathic medication.  They can actually help to reduce adverse effects of medications and assist with healing.  Some drugs, however, such as antibiotics and steroids, can decrease the efficacy of homeopathic remedies.  Nevertheless, homeopathy can often be used successfully with allopathic treatments to benefit chronic conditions such as diabetes, autoimmune disorders, heart disease, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, etc.  

Q: Many medical doctors regard homeopathy as quackery and homeopathic remedies as placebo. When I told my family doctor that homeopathic treatment has helped me, he said it is only “in my mind” and those sugar pills are a joke. Is it true? I am really concerned and don’t know what to do.

A: Most mainstream medical doctors have not been schooled in homeopathy, and have misconceptions about homeopathic principles and remedies.   Over the past two centuries, homeopathy has proved to be one of the world’s most powerful healing modalities.  Millions of lives have been saved and health and well being restored to countless people through homeopathy. 

Each person has a choice as to what kind of treatment he or she wants to use.  The ultimate judge of any treatment is the result.  If homeopathic treatment has helped you, there is no need to worry about the opinion of a medical doctor, or anyone else. You have the freedom to decide what is best for you.

Q: Should I avoid anything while taking homeopathic remedies?

A: There are differing opinions among homeopaths as to what substances antidote, or inactivate, homeopathic remedies.  It is usually suggested to avoid caffeine, camphor, mint, excess alcohol, tobacco, and recreational drugs. 

Q: Can homeopathy treat cancer?

A: Homeopathy doesn’t treat cancer, or any other disease.  Homeopathic remedies strengthen the whole person by improving immune response, balancing metabolism, addressing nutritional deficiencies, and correcting life style.  All of these measures assist the body to heal itself and eradicate disease.  Health and well being are achieved when all systems of the human organism function properly.  There is no room for illness in a healthy body.